The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Keeper Clark aims for return of clean sheets
SAINTS: Stopper looking to reclaim form of last season that created a record breaker for the club
St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark admits that, a year on from being a record breaker, he would love to keep a clean sheet.
Clark was hailed as a Saints hero last season for keeping the opposition out for the sixth successive time in the top flight – something no other Perth No 1 had achieved.
Fast forward to this campaign, however, and Tommy Wright’s team have yet to keep the ball out of their own net in a Premiership fixture.
Clark is desperate for that to change on Saturday, when they face St Mirren in an 11th v 12th clash in Paisley.
The 27-year-old said: “I have always said that if me and the back four can keep a clean sheet then you are guaranteed at least a point.
“We are scoring at the other end so keep the goals out and we will be fine.
“I have had a few before, of course, so it has been frustrating this season.
“As a goalkeeper, that is what you want to achieve – a clean sheet.
“Unfortunately for us, we’ve not got that but I’m sure that, all over the park, if we tightening up then they will happen.
“If we become harder to break down then things will start improving.
“Results-wise, it obviously hasn’t been great for us but this break has given us a chance to regroup and go again on Saturday.”
The international break didn’t come at a great time for St Johnstone, who were hoping to build on what was a decent 2-2 draw up at Ross County in their last game.
Clark feels there is plenty of evidence that Saints are “getting closer” to that elusive first league win.
He added: “We have definitely put on some decent performances and come away from those three away games against County, Aberdeen and Hibs disappointed that we haven’t taken the three points.
“We may not have had a win in the league yet but I think we have shown through our performances that we perhaps merited more.
“I think we are getting closer. “What we need to eradicate are the preventable goals.
“Whereas last season we were solid defensively and could hold on at 1-0, this time we find it going to 1-1.
“We have been scoring goals so it’s a case now of tightening up at the back.
“I’m not just talking about the back four and myself, I mean defending better as a whole team.
“We need to be tougher to break down. I don’t think we have had a goal that we haven’t had to work hard for.
“On the other hand, other teams haven’t needed a great bit of play to get a goal against us.
“It has been about defensive errors, which is frustrating.
“However, we know that our displays have merited more points than we’ve got.
“With that in mind, if we keep turning out performances then things will start to turn.”
A huge bonus from that trip to Dingwall was the sight of Stevie May’s name on the scoresheet.
Clark praised his team-mate for keeping his head up while the goals had dried up.
He said: “For Stevie to go so long without scoring and then miss the penalty, he could have lost a bit of confidence.
“Fair play to him, though, he was determined and continued to look for the ball.
“It was a great ball to him from Danny Swanson and it wasn’t an easy finish for somebody who had been banging in goals every week, never mind someone who hadn’t scored for a long time.
“I was delighted to see it hit the back of the net and hopefully that can kickstart him and he can go on a wee run now.
“We all know what Stevie has achieved here in the past so hopefully this can be a turning point.”
Resultswise, it obviously hasn’t been great for us but this break has given us a chance to regroup and go again on Saturday. ZANDER CLARK